Teachers who meet eligibility criteria can apply to have their overseas teaching qualifications evaluated by NZQA without paying the Teaching IQA fee, under the Zero Fee Teaching IQA initiative.
Each month we will process 200 applications under the initiative until we reach a total of 1200 applications.
- Teachers can submit up to 3 qualifications for evaluation as part of their application.
- Each qualification needs to have their own IQA application.
- Zero Fee Teaching IQA applications will be subject to additional verification checks.
On this page
New eligibility criteria from 2024
The criteria for new applications is changing in 2024. Zero Fee Teaching IQAs will be for secondary teachers only. This is to support the area where teachers are most needed, which is currently in secondary schools.
Teachers with ECE or primary qualification or whose applications do not fall within the monthly limit can still apply for a Teaching IQA using the regular Teaching IQA process.
Zero fee teaching IQAs are very popular, and each allocation fills quickly. Make sure you have all the documents ready before the next monthly allocation will open.
We will only accept applications submitted through our portal.
Please do not send your applications by email.
If you have any queries, please check our questions about Zero Fee or contact us at QRSTeaching@nzqa.govt.nz.
Tips for applying for a Zero Fee Teaching IQA
Before you apply, make sure you have acceptable form of verification of your qualifications.
If you want to know more about what forms of verification we accept, go to:
Acceptable forms of verification
Step-by-step instructions on submitting a Zero Fee Teaching IQA
You can claim any fees for these verification services as part of the Ministry of Education’s Overseas Relocation Grant.
Find out more about the Ministry of Education's Overseas Relocation Grant (external link)
Who is eligible for a Zero Fee Teaching IQA
You are eligible if you meet the requirements for either criterion 1 or criterion 2.
From January 2024, the criteria only apply to holders of a teaching qualifications relevant to the secondary school sector.
Criterion 1
You have completed your main teaching qualification in New Zealand and gained additional qualifications overseas that require evaluation for Edpay salary assessment.
When you apply you need to provide a letter from Edpay requesting an evaluation of your additional qualifications for salary assessment.
Find out more about Novopay/Edpay salary assessments (external link)
Criterion 2
You have completed your teaching qualification overseas and require evaluation for New Zealand teaching registration and employment purposes.
You must provide:
- evidence that you hold an acceptable qualification (see below), relevant to the sector in which you intend to teach (primary, secondary school, or Early Childhood Education) and
- evidence of current overseas teacher registration (or equivalent) or current employment as a teacher in a school or Early Childhood Education setting.
The Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand makes the final decision on whether an individual meets its requirements for teacher registration. You are expected to meet all their requirements.
Read the Teaching Council’s requirements for teacher registration (external link)
Acceptable qualifications
Teaching qualifications are awarded on completion of a programme of study specifically designed to prepare individuals to teach in schools (primary or secondary), or in Early Childhood Education. You must hold an equivalent of a bachelor’s degree (or higher) teaching qualification.
Early Childhood Education and primary school teachers
The teaching qualification/study pathway must include a minimum of three years of full-time (or equivalent) post-secondary study in a higher education institution.
Secondary school teachers
The teaching qualification/study pathway must include a minimum of four years of full-time (or equivalent) post-secondary study in a higher education institution.
All teaching qualifications
All teaching qualifications must include at least one-year full-time (or equivalent) of initial teaching education content and a classroom teaching practicum.
Examples of qualifications/study pathways that meet the criteria
- A three-year (or longer) full-time (or equivalent) bachelor's degree specialising in teaching in the Early Childhood Education or primary sector.
- A four-year (or longer) full-time (or equivalent) bachelor's degree specialising in teaching in the secondary sector.
- A bachelor's degree with a non-teaching related specialisation followed by a one-year full-time (or equivalent) graduate or postgraduate level teaching qualification specialising in Early Childhood Education, primary or secondary sector teaching.
Read more about the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework
Find out more about teaching qualifications in New Zealand (external link)
How to apply
To apply for a Zero Fee Teaching IQA you will need to submit an application through our online web portal.
To do this you will need to:
- create an account through our online web portal
- provide information and documents associated to the teaching qualification(s) that you want evaluated
- provide information and evidence that you are eligible to apply
- provide instructions on how NZQA can directly access your qualification documents from an acceptable verification organisation or your education provider
- submit one IQA application for each qualification (you can submit up to 3 qualifications).
You will need to upload clear colour scans of your documents.
Make sure that they meet our document requirements. We will ask you to resubmit documents if they do not meet the NZQA acceptable standards.
Incomplete applications will be declined.
Provide verified qualification documents
All Zero Fee Teaching IQA applications will be subject to additional verification checks.
You must arrange for your qualification documents to be verified.
You can use an acceptable verification organisation or give us instructions on how to directly verify the qualification documents with your education provider.
You will be responsible for any costs associated with verification or requests for additional information.
Find out more about acceptable forms of verification
Next steps
Requirements for the documents you need to upload
Step-by-step instructions on submitting a Zero Fee Teaching IQA
Questions about Zero Fee
If you are not sure if you are eligible to apply:
Check who is eligible for the Zero Fee Teaching IQA
There are 200 free application slots per month, up to a total of 1200 applications.
If you are eligible for Zero Fee but don't get a slot, you can wait until the next month or pay for the IQA.